Page 23 of Unexpected Danger (Mountain Justice #2)

Gorgeous scenery greeted her for the seven miles to the ranch. Scenery she’d memorized. The ranchland, the rise of the Pronghorn Mountains in the distance, and the homes set on generous parcels of land brought back vivid memories.

Had it only been a matter of months since she’d left?

“I think he’s the one who’s been harassing me in Rowland.”

“Someone’s been harassing you in Rowland? Is that why you came back?”

His words, not meant to be terse, came across that way. Londyn stared out the window, unsure how to respond.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

She reached up and rubbed her temples. “I’m sorry. I just now figured out it was him after he ran me off the road and attempted to strangle me.”

Londyn knew Brodie well enough to know he was angry with her. Not because he was prone to temper, but because he cared.

The guilt suffocated her. If she had never left Pronghorn Falls in the first place…

“I need to know all you know about him and everything that happened.” The sharp edge of his voice remained.

She attempted to blink back the tears to no avail.

Brodie pulled to the side of the road. “Londyn.”

She tore her gaze from several cattle grazing in a nearby pasture and faced him. The words wouldn’t come.

“I’m sorry that came out harsher than I intended. I’m just glad you’re okay.” His voice croaked the last couple of words.

“I know,” she whispered. “There’s so much…Brodie, I’m so sorry for…” The words stuck in her throat, threatening to choke her.

He gently wiped a tear with his calloused thumb. “We can talk about that later. For now, I need to know everything about this Dustin Haack. Everything that happened while you were in Rowland, and how he came to follow you here.”

She could have told Dustin where she was going, and he would have followed her that way, too. She couldn’t completely blame Jasmine. Londyn formerly had no real reason to withhold her new whereabouts from Dustin until he’d made two attempts on her life.

Thoughts of Jasmine entered her thoughts.

Londyn didn’t trust easily, but she had trusted Jasmine.

With her secrets. With her plans. With her background.

With the pain she’d experienced at the hands of her parents and the pain she’d caused Brodie and Aileen.

Yet, the woman had taken that information and thrown it in Londyn’s face.

Brodie veered the truck back onto the highway, and Londyn shared about all that had happened in Rowland, from start to finish. Dustin’s visits, the creepy texts and phone calls, and the way he’d befriended her and wanted to date her. She omitted how he’d kissed her against her wishes.

Occasionally, Brodie would take his eyes from the road and look at Londyn as she spoke. He waited patiently until she was finished before interjecting.

“This guy is dangerous. And we will catch him.”

While nothing was guaranteed, Londyn knew Brodie well enough to know she could trust that he would do all he could to capture Dustin.

When they arrived at the ranch, a slew of emotions stirred within Londyn. She had spent so much time here over the years. Brodie assisted her out of the truck, and Aileen opened the door, her arms outstretched.

Londyn allowed Aileen’s warm embrace to comfort her as the tears streamed down her face. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered.

“There now, there will be plenty of time to discuss that.” Aileen held her at arm’s length then brushed Londyn’s hair from her face, just as a mom would do. “Praise God you are all right.”

Fresh lines edged Aileen’s eyes, and her face looked more drawn than Londyn remembered.

In her fifties, Aileen had suffered for years from chronic health issues, but that never stopped her from caring for those she loved.

“Why don’t you come inside? Roarke, Mila, and Xander are here. We’ll get you settled into your room.”

Her room . Yes, it had been her temporary sanctuary when she’d visited the Brennemans, especially the night before they would go camping or on another special trip. They had always treated her like another member of the family.

“Aileen, I need to apologize.”

Their conversation was interrupted when Xander skipped through the doorway. “I think I might have met you before,” he said, stopping just in front of Londyn and tilting his head to one side. “I’m Xander Brenneman, bug collector ex-tror-naire.”

Londyn laughed, thankful for the reprieve from more serious topics.

Xander had always been a smart little fellow.

One who had been through so much when his parents died in a car accident.

She’d heard from Aileen that he was subsequently adopted by Roarke and his wife.

“I am Londyn. Pleasure to re-meet you, Xander.” She extended a hand, and Xander shook it.

“That’s right. Aunt Londyn. I remember you now.”

Aileen ushered them into the house. Xander tapped on her arm. “What happened to you?” he asked.

“I was in an accident.”

“What kind of accident?”

Londyn didn’t want to say too much and scare him. “An accident where I got a few owies,” she said.

“I was in an accident once when I was first learning to ride my bike without training wheels. I was all wobbly and going from side to side, and then I crashed.” Xander gestured with his hands as he spoke in an animated voice.

“Oh, no, I’m sorry to hear that.”

“It's all right. It was when I was younger. But I did have a couple of confusions.”

“You mean contusions,” said Roarke.

“Yeah, those too.”

Roarke nodded at her. “Good to see you, Londyn.” While Roarke’s words were cordial, she knew him well enough to know there was a hidden layer of disappointment in his features.

He and Brodie were not only brothers but best friends with an unbreakable bond of loyalty.

It would stand to reason he was irritated at her for breaking his brother’s heart, and rightfully so.

She’d need to apologize to him as well. “Thank you. You, too.”

“I’d like to introduce you to my wife, Mila.”

Aileen had invited Londyn to Roarke and Mila’s wedding, but she’d been unable to take time off work, and back then, she couldn’t face Brodie yet.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Londyn.”

They chatted for a few minutes, and Londyn liked Mila immediately. She complimented Roarke well and was the perfect mom for Xander.

Yukon licked her hand. “It’s good to see you too, Yukon,” she said to the friendly dog she’d thought of as her own pet.

“Hey, guess what, Aunt Londyn?”

“What’s that?”

“I had show and tell at the homeschool co-op yesterday.”

“How fun. I used to love show and tell. What did you share with the other students?”

“I think it’s time for Xander to go play,” said Brodie.

Xander’s brow crinkled. “Uncle Brodie, can I tell my story first?”

“Yeah, Uncle Brodie, can he tell his story first?” teased Roarke.

Brodie shook his head. “I suppose.”

Xander returned his attention to Londyn. “I shared about Uncle Brodie.”

“You mean that he’s the sheriff?”

“No. That he’s the loudest snorer in the whole wide world!” Xander opened his arms to illustrate his point.

Londyn laughed. “That he is.”

“Remember that one time on the mission trip?” asked Roarke.

“I don’t think anyone will forget that time,” added Aileen.

Brodie coughed. “Excuse me, but do we have to bring this up right now?”

“Why not?” asked Roarke.

Xander ran from the room and returned with a hand-held tape recorder. “Wanna listen to it, Aunt Londyn? I recorded it when he was on the couch last Sunday after church. Mom said he was snoring loudly enough for the neighbors to hear him.”

Brodie patted Xander on the head. “Considering the closest neighbors are you guys and then some about a mile away.”

“Uh-huh.” Xander pressed play, and an obnoxious sound, reminiscent of a booming chainsaw, infiltrated the room. The inhale was nearly as blustering as the exhale, and the predictable pattern was just as it had been that time on the mission trip.

“Good thing you were checked for sleep apnea,” offered Mila.

“Yeah, yeah. I don’t have sleep apnea.”

Xander pressed the stop button after torturing his listeners. “I have an idea, Uncle Bro.”

“What’s that, Xander?”

“When bad guys steal and hurt people and are put in jail, you could make them listen to this. They would promise never to be bad guys again.”

Everyone laughed except for Brodie, who looked slightly offended. “Very funny.” But Londyn could see he struggled to withhold a grin even as red dotted his cheeks. Brodie Brenneman was handsome all the time, even when he was embarrassed.

“How about we let Londyn go downstairs and rest?” suggested Aileen.

“Roarke, would you mind helping me unload her belongings from the SUV and the cargo trailer?”

“Sure.”

Londyn watched as the two men walked toward her vehicle, which was parked at the far end of the circular drive.

“Make yourself at home, sweetie. And let me know if you need anything.”

Aileen had always been so kind and comforting. “Thank you, I will.”

The guest room where Londyn had always stayed was the same as she remembered it. Homey, pale blue, with a queen-sized bed and an oak dresser. She allowed herself to recline on the bed as she struggled to stay awake.

Thank you, Lord, for the Brenneman family.

“What is it about you guys razzing me about my snoring?” Brodie and Roarke headed outside.

Roarke chuckled. “Paybacks.”

“For what?”

“That time you thought it would be funny to stick that rooster in my room after Mom said the only pets allowed in the house were the dog and the frogs in the aquarium. I was grounded for a month.”

“Holding grudges, much? That was like a hundred years ago.”

“What? Were you embarrassed in front of Londyn?”

“No, she knows of my…”

“Condition?”

“You make it sound so detrimental.”

“It could be if you use it for what Xander suggested.” Roarke smirked. “Just think. Having to listen to that rumbling freight train twenty-four seven. That would set me on the right path for sure.”

Brodie slugged Roarke. “Thanks a lot. I just happen to have good lungs.”